The Latino Coalition's Small Business Summit Draws Top Speakers and Launches Key Partnerships -- WASHINGTON, June 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

The Latino Coalition's Small Business Summit Draws Top Speakers and Launches Key Partnerships
SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, Senior VP of Operations for Sam's Club North Division Lance de la Rosa, Vice President of Government Affairs for Herbalife International Angela Maria Arboleda Speak and Hispanic Business Leaders Honored with Five Star Diamond Awards

WASHINGTON, June 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Latino Coalition, one of the nation's largest Hispanic business groups held their annual TLC Small Business Summit last week, attracting high-profile speakers and honoring some of the most accomplished leaders in the Hispanic business community.

"We've just concluded our most successful Small Business Summit yet," said TLC Chairman Hector Barreto, "and the best is yet to come – both economically and in terms of influence – for our group and for the entire Latino business community."

The TLC Small Business Summit attracted top government leaders and business executives from around the nation, including speeches from SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, Senior VP of Operations for Sam's Club North Division Lance de la Rosa and the Vice President of Government Affairs for Herbalife International Angela Maria Arboleda. The event also featured remarks by Congressmen Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.).

During the Summit luncheon Joseph Cinque, President & CEO of the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, recognized the efforts of two established entrepreneurs with the coveted Five Star Diamond Award. Antonio Leaño Reyes, Chancellor of the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara was acknowledged for his leadership and significant contribution to the Latino community. And the Star Diamond Lifetime Crystal Award was bestowed to Ing. Arturo Peña Del Mazo, uncle and special advisor to the president of Mexico known as 'Tio Papa.' Del Mazo is President of La Fundación Cultural Isidro Fabela, A.C., and was given the award for his leadership and significant contributions to the Latino community.

The Latino Coalition presented their prestigious "Ganas Award" to Joe Alderete, Director of Supplier Diversity for Southern California Edison, for his significant leadership and patronage in the Latino business community. Previous top TLC award winners include U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, U.S. Congressman Xavier Becerra, AltaMed President and CEO Cástulo de la Rocha and U.S. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales.

Chairman Barreto also announced new partnerships through a Memoranda of Understanding with two leading groups: The United States Hispanic Leadership Institute and the Job Creators Network.

USHLI is known for its outstanding research, as well as its nonpartisan voter registration and leadership development programs in 40 states. The Latino Coalition and USHLI signed an MOU and will work together to promote empowerment and civic responsibility in the Hispanic business community.

JCN is a group made up of the nation's top CEOs, who believe that the "best defense against bad government policies is a well-informed public." The Latino Coalition will partner with JCN on projects and business opportunities ranging from the JCN's "Employer to Employee" education program, to small-business advocacy initiatives.

"With such a successful summit last week, I am looking forward to TLC's West Coast Economic Summit, on October 9th in Los Angeles. The Summit will be the next great opportunity for the 'who's who' of leaders in the Hispanic business community to gather, network, share concerns and initiate solutions to the biggest challenges facing Latino business owners today," Barreto added.

ABOUT THE LATINO COALITION- The Latino Coalition (TLC) was founded in 1995 by a group of Hispanic business owners from across the country to research and develop policies relevant to Latinos. TLC is a non-profit nationwide organization with offices in California, Washington, DC and Guadalajara, Mexico. Established to address policy issues that directly affect the well being of Hispanics in the United States, TLC's agenda is to develop initiatives and partnerships that will foster economic equivalency and enhance overall business, economic and social development for Latinos. Visit www.thelatinocoalition.com.